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Foundations of Strategy as Politics

Learning Objectives

The Power School: Strategy as Politics

Strategy Is Also About Who Wins

Micro and Macro Analytical Strands

The Macro Strand: Strategy Across Firm Boundaries

Worked Example: Apple, 1985, When a Coalition Beat the Founder

Practice: Map the Coalitions

Nuance, Limitations, and Further Perspectives

Where the Power Lens Overreaches

Expert Depth: Whose Interests Count, and Do Alliances Build or Hollow?

Go Further

Quiz Section

Quiz

Quiz: Strategic Bargaining and Who Wins

Quiz: Diagnosing the Apple 1985 Boardroom Struggle

Quiz: Applying Stakeholder and Alliance Analysis

Quiz: Assessing the Limitations of the Power Lens

Course Survey and Feedback

Completion

Self-Assessment and Course Evaluation

Welcome to "Navigating Strategic Politics: The Power School of Strategy Formation. " In the real world of business, the best idea doesn't always win—the best-supported idea does.

Welcome to "Navigating Strategic Politics: The Power School of Strategy Formation." In the real world of business, the best idea doesn't always win—the best-supported idea does. Strategy is rarely a purely rational, straightforward process; it is deeply intertwined with power dynamics, negotiation, and coalition-building. This comprehensive course dives into the "Power School" of strategy, teaching you how to view organizational direction through the lens of politics and influence. Whether you are navigating internal boardroom struggles or managing external alliances across firm boundaries, understanding who holds the power is critical to your success.

Throughout this course, you will explore the foundations of strategy as politics, learning that strategy is just as much about *who wins* as it is about what is planned. We will dissect both micro and macro analytical strands, using real-world case studies like the infamous 1985 Apple boardroom struggle where a coalition ousted the founder. You will gain hands-on practice mapping coalitions, diagnosing strategic bargaining, and assessing stakeholder interests. Finally, we will explore the nuances and limitations of the power lens, ensuring you know exactly when and how to apply these frameworks effectively. By the end of this course, you will be equipped to navigate complex organizational politics, build powerful alliances, and drive strategic initiatives forward with confidence. Enroll today to master the art of strategic politics!

7 - Navigating Strategic Politics: The Power School of Strategy Formation

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            <p>Strategy formation is frequently idealized as a sterile, rational exercise in optimization, yet empirical reality demonstrates that it is deeply entangled with human ambition, bargaining, and political maneuvering. The Power School of strategy formation strips away the illusion of purely objective decision-making to reveal the underlying mechanics of influence, negotiation, and control. By examining strategy as an inherently political process, this framework acknowledges that strategic outcomes are not merely about what is most efficient for the organization, but fundamentally about who wins. For practitioners and students of strategy who have watched meticulously crafted, "rational" plans be dismantled, reshaped, or entirely reversed by those holding the levers of power, understanding these dynamics is a critical analytical requirement rather than a mere theoretical exercise.</p>

<p>This course systematically deconstructs the Power School through both micro and macro analytical strands, providing a rigorous methodology for mapping stakeholder interests and coalition building. The curriculum dissects historical precedents—most notably the 1985 boardroom struggle at Apple, where a consolidated coalition successfully outmaneuvered the company's founder—to illustrate how internal bargaining dictates corporate trajectories. Furthermore, the analysis extends beyond internal firm boundaries to evaluate macro-level power dynamics, such as strategic alliances and external stakeholder negotiations. By concluding with a critical assessment of the limitations of the power lens, the course ensures a balanced perspective, delineating exactly where political analysis illuminates strategic formation and where it risks overreaching into organizational cynicism.</p>
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